A high pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) procedure is described for determining the following putrefactive amines: histamine, tyramine, putrescine, cadaverine, tryptamine, and beta-phenylethylamine. The amines were extracted from tuna or cheese with methanol. Further cleanup was performed by sequential extractions with butanol and HCl. The acid extract was dried, and residues were derivatized with dansyl chloride. HPLC separations were performed on an Ultrasphere-ODS column at 33 degrees C. A gradient elution program was used; the total elution time was less than 17 min. Linear standard curves with high correlation coefficients were obtained. The procedure allowed good recoveries of histamine, tyramine, putrescine, and cadaverine; recoveries of tryptamine and beta-phenylethylamine were lower but constant. With this method, some swiss cheese samples were found to contain considerable amounts of histamine, tyramine, putrescine, cadaverine, and beta-phenylethylamine. Canned tuna samples had very low levels of these amines. Since the presence of amines at high levels has been associated with tuna decomposition, this method may be useful in identifying decomposed fish.